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Ruth Eis

Judaica Curator (Judah. L. Magnes Museum)

Born in Germany and immigrated to the United States in the 1930's, Ruth Eis (née Levy), was the founding Curator of Judaica at the Judah L. Magnes Museum (1962). She guided the development of the Judaica collection, and established its international reputation with her scholarly publications covering the museum's Hanukkah lamps, Torah binders, and other ritual objects. After her retirement, she remained a committed supporter of The Magnes, and visited its new premises shortly after the reopening at the University of California, Berkeley. Ruth Eis passed away in Oakland in December of 2012.

Videos

Magnes curator, Ruth Eis, talks about purchasing silver jewelry at a shop, sold to the shop by Jews who had left Yemen.

During the political upheavals of the late 1960s and early 1970s, Jews fled their homes and communities in and around India, North Africa, and the former Ottoman Empire. As much of this material culture was being actively destroyed, artifacts from these communities were at risk of vanishing altogether. In response, Magnes co-founders Rebecca and Seymour Fromer, curator Ruth Eis, and volunteer Rabbi Bernard Kimmel traveled to these areas, sometimes at great personal risk, to collect and preserve these materials for future generations. These unique objects were researched as part of the museum's multi-year Collection Access Project, which will enable the museum to dramatically improve the care, interpretation, and exhibition of the permanent collection.

Alla Efimova, Magnes Chief Curator, interviewed Rebecca and Seymour Fromer and Ruth Eis on April 20, 2006 at the home of Ruth Eis in Oakland, CA. Filming by Perian Sully and editing by Casondra Sobieralski.

During the political upheavals of the late 1960s and early 1970s, Jews fled their homes and communities in and around India, North Africa, and the former Ottoman Empire. As much of this material culture was being actively destroyed, artifacts from these communities were at risk of vanishing altogether. In response, Magnes co-founders Rebecca and Seymour Fromer, curator Ruth Eis, and volunteer Rabbi Bernard Kimmel traveled to these areas, sometimes at great personal risk, to collect and preserve these materials for future generations. These unique objects were researched as part of the museum's multi-year Collection Access Project, which will enable the museum to dramatically improve the care, interpretation, and exhibition of the permanent collection.

Alla Efimova, Magnes Chief Curator, interviewed Rebecca and Seymour Fromer and Ruth Eis on April 20, 2006 at the home of Ruth Eis in Oakland, CA. Filming by Perian Sully and editing by Casondra Sobieralski.